FORT COLLINS â€“ Five hundred and fifty miles from Manhattan, Kan., lies one of Kansas State quarterback Collin Kleinâ€™s biggest fans as Klein charges toward the Heisman Trophy:

Colorado State quarterback M.J. McPeek.

â€śHeâ€™s my frontrunner,â€ť McPeek said, smiling wide.

The duo both hail from Colorado, though many miles separated McPeek at Rangeview High in Aurora and Klein at Loveland High. But as fate had it, the two crossed paths at KSU — McPeek just hanging on the roster after the firing of the coach that brought him there, Ron Prince, and Klein, who seemed tailor-made for the offense the new coach, Bill Snyder, was bringing back.

Boy was he.

Klein began carving out a name for himself last season, but has kicked the door in this year. A true dual-threat quarterback, the senior has thrown for 1,630 yards and 12 touchdowns while bashing through defenses as a runner for 634 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Those numbers have made Klein not just McPeekâ€™s frontrunner but the national frontrunner for the Heisman as well.

But it is friendship that McPeek cherishes most.

â€śI knew he was a player,â€ť McPeek said. â€śThe kid can run. Heâ€™s 6-6, 250 (pounds). Ran like a 4.5 40 (yard dash) at the time. Thatâ€™s why he fits so well in that offense. Thatâ€™s why I ended up leaving, because we were complete opposites. But I donâ€™t know if anybody foresaw Heisman Trophy in the picture or anything like that. But heâ€™s a tremendous athlete, heâ€™s a great person. We still talk every once in a while, still have his number. He lives right down in Loveland. Every time heâ€™s back I try to talk to him and see him. Itâ€™s definitely pretty exciting to see it.â€ť

McPeek catches KSU games when he can, and scans the box scores, keeping up on the last Klein news.

â€śHeâ€™s a great kid,â€ť McPeek said. â€śHeâ€™s a good friend, good person; heâ€™s just a great guy all around. Being a great athlete is just kind of the cherry on top for him because he is just an amazing guy. Just a freak athlete. Itâ€™s a tremendous opportunity, Iâ€™m glad he took advantage of it, itâ€™s working out well for him and I couldnâ€™t be happier for him.â€ť

Follow Chris Dempsey on Twitter @dempseypost or email him at cdempsey@denverpost.com

Comments Off on Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein has a big fan – and friend – in CSU’s M.J. McPeek

Terry Frei graduated from Wheat Ridge High School in the Denver area and has degrees in history and journalism from the University of Colorado-Boulder. He worked for the Rocky Mountain News while attending CU and joined the Post staff after graduation. He has also worked at the Oregonian in Portland, Ore., and The Sporting News. His seventh book, March 1939: Before the Madness, was issued in February 2014.